Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River (Oct 21/02) - Seniors in Hay River will have a chance to learn more about the Internet at a seminar this week.

It will be an opportunity for seniors to allay fears they may have about the Internet, says Rhonda Desnomie, a local information technology consultant who has volunteered to lead the seminar.

Desnomie says many seniors have a negative, stereotyped view of the Internet, explaining they may see it primarily as a vehicle for pornography.

"I think this is going to be a chance for them to see the positive side of the technology we use," she says.

The seminar is being held at NWT Centennial Library from Oct. 21-25 for 10 local seniors.

Means of communication

Desnomie, who owns and operates Tech-Eze, will demonstrate such things as Internet browsing, attaching pictures to e-mails and forwarding. In addition, all seminar participants will get an e-mail account.

"I think they are going to be interested in communicating with their families," Desnomie says.

She also expects the seniors may want to check out Internet sites on subjects like genealogy and travel.

The seminar will also be a chance for seniors to learn some of the terminology of the Internet and computers, she says. "Getting past the terminology and basic usage of the computer is a big thing."

The seminar will be the first of its kind for seniors in Hay River.

It will be presented on a 10-computer lab from Yellowknife. The lab was part of a donation to the NWT by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.